The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-30
TUTTLE's QUEER RECORD.
Something About the Man Who Propos,
to Insult PrexIdeut Cleveland.


Something About the Man Who Proposes
to Insult President Cleveland.
Who is General j. NJ Tuttle, of
Iowa? The circumstances that excite
public interest in this question are
briefly as follows: There is soon to be
large gathering of Union veterans at
st. Louis. Prominent citizens, think
ing the occasion a favorable one to
carry out resolution which they had
formed last year. appointed delega-
ton to wait on the President and in
vite him to be present The commit
tee went to Washington, extended the
invitation and were informed by Mr..
Cleveland that if nothing untoward
happened it would give him great
pleasure to accept. When the news
of the Presidents favorable reply was
received it made every body feel hap
py, with the exception of a small band
of incOrrigibles, of whom General "
j. NJ. Tuttle seems to be the self-ap-
pointed mouth-pioce. 1t threw them
into state of liberation and the Cen
eral on his own and their behalf imme-
diately declared that if Mr.. Cleveland
attended the St Louis encampmeHt he
and his fellows would "snub and in
suit" him, for the reason that they
couldn't abide a ''copperhead Presi-
dent" Furthermore he denounced
and assailed with great energy of jaw
both General Cox, of Ohio, and Gen.
eral Chamberlain. of Maine.
Who, then, is this Genera" J. NJ
Tuttle, of Iowa, whose overlooking
loyalty takes such umbrage at the
courtesy extended to Mr.. Cleveland by
the citizens of ST. Louis? To-day he is
an oAstreperous member of the legion
of lows x'tarans, but twenty-four years
ago,when the r1Sntry was at the white
heat of war, he w;to She Democratic
nominee for Governor of Iowa. Against
him the Republicans had placed in
nomination William NJ. Stone. The
Iowa soldiers in the field were called
upon to say which of these two candi-
dates they preferred. Five regiments
voted in obedience to the call. 1t must
have been trying crisis for the super
sensitive Tuttlc. These men were his
neighbors. They had watched his
course, studied his character and knew
him thoroughly. Their decision would
stamp the quality of that loyalty
which, after nearly a quarter
of a century. he ventures to
set above the loyalty of soldiers like
Generals Cox and Chamberlain. When
the ballots were counted it appeared
that Tuttle had received just 40 votes,
while his opponent obtained 1,608.
Later on, during the piping days of
reconstruction, when the strength of
every public mans devotion to the
Union cause was tested in the alembic
Of a fierce public opinion, Tuttle chal
lenoed a second ordeal. Then the
gallant Maine soldier whom he
now denounces had Just been
elected Governor of his native
State by an unprecedented majority,
and of the enthusiastic convention
of soldiers and sailors assembled at
Pittsburgh on the 25th of September,
1866, General Cox was chairman.
That convention passed resolutions ex-
pressing joy that the great mass of
those who had worn the uniform op-
posed the policy of Andrew john
on. Perhaps it is the memory of this
convention that gives edge to the Bit
terness of Tuttle's attack on General
Cox, for the former was at this very
time delegate to the Philadelphia
gathering of so-called Andrew John
son "Copperheads," and also the
"Copperhead" candidate for Congress
from the Fifth District of Iowa.
In the face of such record, Tuttle's
threat to ..snub and insult" Mr.. Cleve-
land, and his audacity in accusing him
of being "copperhead President"
are the very absurdity of malevolence.
He is an example of a class of men
who seek to atone for their doubtful
loyalty in the days when the Nations
life was at stake by exhibiting an ex-
aggcrated spirit of devotion after the
danger and conflict are over. The
fraud betrays itself by the excesses to
which it goes. The distrust of Tuttle
which the Iowa soldiers showed by
their votes in the field is doubly justi-
fed by his post 6ellmn impudence and
folly. 1t is fair assumption that his
heart was not in the cause and that
the recklessness with which he now
assails veterans of unimpeachable 10y
atty is a proof Of the dislike which a
pretender always feels for sincere and
honest men.-BrooElYn Eagle.